Magnetic tool holder

ABSTRACT

A magnetic tool holder includes two spaced-apart positioning seats, each of which has two opposite first and second faces, two lateral sides interconnecting the faces, two positioning slots that open respectively at the lateral sides, and a screw hole extending from the second face to the first face, an elongate magnetic frame unit including at least one bar with two opposite ends inserted fittingly into one of the positioning slots in a corresponding positioning seat and a magnet unit mounted fixedly on the bar, and a plurality of fastening units extending respectively into the screw holes in the positioning seats to fasten fixedly the positioning seats on an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a magnetic tool holder, moreparticularly to a magnetic tool holder that can magnetically positionmetallic tools and the like.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional magnetic tool holder includesa main body 1 and a magnet 2 disposed fixedly inside the main body 1.The main body 1 includes a base plate 101 connected fixedly to asupport, such as a wall, by means of screws (not shown), and a housingseat 102 that projects integrally from the base plate 101 and thatconfines a receiving slot 103 for receiving fixedly the magnet 2therein.

[0005] Although the conventional magnetic tool holder can achieve itsintended purpose, since the length of the magnetic tool holder islimited, when the number of tools to be held exceeds that which a singletool holder could accommodate, an additional magnetic tool holder has tobe nailed or screwed on the support, thereby rendering the conventionalmagnetic tool holder inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide amagnetic tool holder which facilitates adjustment in the total lengththereof so as to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the prior art.

[0007] According to the present invention, a magnetic tool holder ismountable on a support, and comprises at least two spaced-apartpositioning seats, an elongate magnetic frame unit, and a plurality offastening units. Each of the positioning seats has a first face adaptedto be mounted fixedly on an object, a second face opposite to the firstface, two lateral sides interconnecting the first and second faces, twopositioning slots which are formed in the positioning seats and whichopen respectively at the lateral sides, and a screw hole extending fromthe second face to the first face. The elongate magnetic frame unitincludes at least one bar disposed between the positioning seats, and amagnet unit mounted fixedly on the bar. The bar has two opposite ends,each of which is inserted fittingly into one of the positioning slots ina respective one of the positioning seats. The fastening units extendrespectively through the screw holes in the positioning seats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic toolholder;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the firstpreferred embodiment of a magnetic tool holder according to the presentinvention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an assembled sectional view showing the first preferredembodiment when mounted on a wall;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of amagnetic tool holder according to the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, itshould be noted that like elements are denoted by the same referencenumerals throughout the disclosure.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of amagnetic tool holder according to the present invention is adapted to bemounted on a surface 110 of an object, such as a wall 100, and is shownto comprise two spaced-apart positioning seats 10, an elongate magneticframe unit 20, and a plurality of fastening units 60.

[0017] Each of the positioning seats 10 has a first rectangular face 11adapted to be mounted fixedly on the surface 110 of the wall 100, asecond curved face 12 opposite to the first face 11, two lateral sides13 interconnecting the first and second faces 11, 12, two positioningslots 131 which are formed in the positioning seats 10 and which openrespectively at the lateral sides 13, a first screw hole 14 extendingfrom the second face 12 to the first face 11 and intersecting one of thepositioning slots 131, and a second screw hole 16 extending from thesecond face 12 to the first face 11 and intersecting the other one ofthe positioning slots 131.

[0018] The elongate magnetic frame unit 20 includes a bar 30 disposedbetween the positioning seats 10, a magnet unit mounted fixedly on thebar 30, and a cover plate 50. The bar 30 is made of a conductive metalmaterial, and has two opposite ends 311, each of which is insertedfittingly into one of the positioning slots 131 in a respective one ofthe positioning seats 10, and two through holes 312 formed respectivelyin the opposite ends 311. The bar 30 has a U-shaped cross section, andconfines a channel 33 to receive the magnet unit. Each of thepositioning slots 131 has a cross-section substantially corresponding tothe bar 30 so as to receive snugly one of the ends 311 of the bar 30.The magnet unit includes a plurality of magnets 40 mounted fixedly inthe channel 33 in the bar 30. Each of the magnets 40 has an innersurface adhered to the bar 30 by means of an adhesive, and an outersurface that is flush with edge faces of two opposite flaps 32 of thebar 30. The cover plate 50 is made of a thin plastic material, and isused to cover the channel 33 in the bar 30. The cover plate 50 isdirectly secured to the bar 30 and the magnets 40 by means of anadhesive so as to fix the magnets 40 in the channel 33. The cover plate50 has an outer surface provided with indication marks 51, such asprinted pictures, trademarks, or letters, for indicating positions ofthe tools which are to be retained to the magnetic frame unit 20.

[0019] Each of the fastening units 60 extends through a respective oneof the first and second screw holes 14, 16 in the positioning seats 10and a respective one of the through holes 312 in the bar 30 to fastenfixedly the positioning seats 10 and the magnetic frame unit 20 on thewall 100.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, during assembly, each end 311 of thebar 30 is inserted fittingly into one of the positioning slots 131 inthe corresponding positioning seat 10. Each through hole 312 in the bar30 is aligned with the first screw hole 14 in the correspondingpositioning seat 10 at this time. Two fastening units 60 are then passedthrough the respective first screw holes 14 and the respective throughholes 312, and penetrate into the wall 100 so that the positioning seats10 are fixed stably on the wall 100. Because of the fastening units 60,the magnetic frame unit 20 is also stably connected to the positioningseats 10 at the same time.

[0021] From the above description of the first preferred embodiment ofthe magnetic tool holder of the present invention, it is apparent thatthe positioning seats 10 are fixed on the surface 110 of the wall 100 bymeans of the fastening units 60, and the magnetic frame unit 20, asidefrom being positioned through insertion of the two ends 311 of the bar30 into the positioning slots 131 in the respective positioning seats10, is secured to the positioning seats 10 by means of the fasteningunits 60 which extend through the screw holes 14, 16 and the throughholes 312, thereby strengthening the structure of the magnetic toolholder of the present invention as a whole. Furthermore, with thepresence of the magnets 40 in the magnetic frame unit 20, tools, such aspincers, wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, keys, knives, scissors, etc., canbe magnetically attached to the magnetic tool holder of the presentinvention. Moreover, due to the indication marks 51 on the cover plate50, it is easy for the user to identify the positions of the toolsretained on the magnetic tool holder.

[0022] When the length of the magnetic tool holder of the presentinvention is not sufficient to accommodate a larger number of the tools,additional magnetic frame units 20 and positioning seats 10 can be usedto extend the length of the magnetic tool holder of the presentinvention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodimentof a magnetic tool holder according to the present invention is shown toinclude three positioning seats, and a pair of the elongate magneticframe units 20. The three positioning seats include two outerpositioning seats 10′, and an intermediate positioning seat 10″ disposedbetween the outer positioning seats 10′. The frame units 20 are disposedbetween the outer positioning seats 10′, and are connected respectivelyto the positioning slots 131″ in the intermediate positioning seat 10″.

[0023] Thus, the magnetic tool holder of the present invention is notonly convenient to use, but is also easy to assemble.

[0024] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the fastening units60 pass through the positioning seats 10 and the magnetic frame unit 20simultaneously. Alternatively, the fastening units 60 may pass throughthe positioning seats without passing through the magnetic frame unit20, and the magnetic frame unit 20 may be positioned on the positioningseats by inserting fittingly the two ends 311 of the bar 30 into thecorresponding positioning slots in the positioning seats.

[0025] While the present invention has been described in connection withwhat is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

I claim:
 1. A magnetic tool holder mountable on a support, comprising:at least two spaced-apart positioning seats, each of which has a firstface adapted to be mounted fixedly on an object, a second face oppositeto said first face, two lateral sides interconnecting said first andsecond faces, two positioning slots which are formed in said positioningseats and which open respectively at said lateral sides, and a firstscrew hole extending from said second face to said first face; anelongate magnetic frame unit including at least one bar disposed betweensaid positioning seats, and a magnet unit mounted fixedly on said bar,said bar having two opposite ends, each of which is inserted fittinglyinto one of said positioning slots in a respective one of saidpositioning seats; and a plurality of fastening units extendingrespectively through said first screw holes in said positioning seats.2. The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bar hasa U-shaped cross section and confines a channel to receive said magnetunit, each of said positioning slots having a cross-sectionsubstantially corresponding to said bar so as to receive snugly one ofsaid ends of said bar.
 3. The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim1, wherein said first screw hole intersects one of said positioningslots.
 4. The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein eachof said positioning seats further has a second screw hole extending fromsaid second face to said first face and intersecting the other one ofsaid positioning slots.
 5. The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim4, wherein said bar has two through holes, each of said fastening unitsextending through a respective one of said first and second screw holesand a respective one of said through holes.
 6. The magnetic tool holderas claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnet unit includes a plurality ofmagnets mounted fixedly on said bar.
 7. The magnetic tool holder asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising a cover plate to cover saidchannel, said cover plate being secured to said magnet unit and saidbar.
 8. The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidcover plate has an outer surface provided with an indication mark. 9.The magnetic tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number ofsaid positioning seats is at least three, said three positioning seatsincluding two outer positioning seats and an intermediate positioningseat disposed between said outer positioning seats, said frame unitincluding at least a pair of said bars both of which are disposedbetween said outer positioning seats and both of which are connectedrespectively to said positioning slots in said intermediate positioningseat.